On Tuesday, January 26 the Minnesota AFL-CIO held an Organizers’ Roundtable at the Painters and Allied Trades District Council 82 Hall. Ken Zinn from the AFL-CIO spoke about the challenges workers are facing nationwide in their attempts
to form unions. He gave examples of ways our flawed legal system has failed workers who have been illegally fired for seeking to organize with their co-workers. Despite the difficult legal climate, there have been many recent union organizing successes. Zinn encouraged the Minnesota union organizers to continue to fight for workers who want a voice on the job. He stressed that organizing can’t wait for the slow process of legislative reform.
Over forty organizers attended the meeting representing fifteen unions and Working America. The roundtable offered an opportunity for Minnesota organizers to talk about barriers they’ve faced while trying to help workers organize, and ways they have overcome those barriers. Those assembled agreed to work together to enhance union organizing capacity in the state.
by Candace Lund, Minnesota AFL-CIO Mobilizing/Organizing Director